Machine for making switchboard-cords.



No. 830,295. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

W. J. BURTON.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SWITGHBOARD GORDS. APPLIOATION 211.31 snr'r. 5, 1ao5.

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PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

W. J. BURTON. MACHINE FOR MAKING SWITCHBOARD GORDS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1906.

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N0- 830,295. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

W. J. BURTON.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SWITGHBOARD CORDS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

WILLIAM J. BURTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SWlTCHBOAFiD-CORDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed September 5, 1905. Serial No. 276,981.

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. BURTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Switchboard-Cords; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates in general to apparatus for coiling wire, and moreparticularly to a machine for making switchboard-cords.

In United States Letters Patent N 0. 789,651, covering a joint inventionof C. L. Burlingham and myself, and in United States Letters Patent No.789,652, covering a sole invention of mine, are covered switchboardcordscomprising one or more electrical conductors wound in a continuousspiral, the conductors being composed of a tenacious wire surrounded bya good conducting material. The manufacture of this type ofswitchboard-cords manually is a slow and expensive operation and resultsin cords the various convolutions of which are not always uniform.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a machine for makingswitchboardcords of the type covered by the patents referred to, bymeans of which cords composed of one or more conductors may beautomatically manufactured, thereby reducing the expense and resultingin more perfect cords being formed.

A further object of my invention is to provi de a machine for windinginto parallel convolutions wire, which will be comparatively simple inconstruction and eflicient in operation.

My invention, generally described, consists in a rotary carrier, meansfor rotatably supporting one or more spools of wire upon said carrier, amandrel with respect to which the carrier rotates and around which thewire is coiled, means for drawing the coiled wire from the mandrel, andmeans for relatively rotating the earri er and mandrel.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodiedin a convenient and practical form, and 1n which- Figure 1 is a planview; F1g. 2, a vertical sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. 1 Fig. 3, an ienlarged sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. 2 Fig. 4, an enlarged detailedview of the mandrel Fig. 5, a sectional detailed view of one of theadjustable guides; Fig. 6, a plan view of the mandrel and guides aroundthe same; Fig. 7, an elevational view of the power connections, and Fig.8 a detailed sectional view of the clutch.

The same reference characters are used to designate the same ures of thedrawings.

Reference-letter A indicates a table or other suitable support,preferably mounted upon legs a a.

B designates a supporting-frame mounted above the table A and supportedthereon by interposed posts I) Z).

Secured to the table A and projecting upwardly therefrom is a tube D,the lower end of which is screw-threaded and projects below the table.Any suitable means may be provided for rigidly uniting the tube to thetable-such, for instance, as a lock-nut (Z between which and the underside of the table a washer may be interposed. located Within the tube Dis a post D, the upper end of which is provided with a flange overlyingthe upper end of the tube, while its lower end is screw-threaded andprojects below the tube.

(2 indicates a lock-nut engaging the lower end of the post and rigidlysecuring the post within the tube.

Rotatably surrounding the ,tube D is a gear-wheel G, having a hub 9,upon which rests a carrier H, the carrier being rigidly secured to thehub in any suitable manneras, for instance, by one or more dowel-pins h.Secured to the upper surface of the carrier H are a plurality of tubularsupports K, four being shown for convenience. One or more spools orreels L, containing wire, are rotatably mounted upon the supports K andare retain ed thereon by bolts 7c extending through the spools intoengagement with the supports K.

Mounted upon the upper end of the post D is a rod E, carrying at itsupper end a mandrel F. The lower end of the rod E engages ascrew-threaded opening in the upper parts in the several fig-Concentrically number of supports K. Each of the brackets O adjustablysupports -a guide P, the upper ends of such guides having holestherethrough. The lower end of each guide P is slotted vertically toreceive the head of a bolt p, such bolt extending through the respectivesupporting-bracket O and serving to clamp the guide thereto by means ofthe nut p 2 Located adjacent each of the supports K is a bracket M, towhich is secured a leafspring m, the free end of which is adapted toengage the periphery of the lower end of the spool L, mounted upon theadjacent suport. In order to regulate the pressure with which eachspring we engages the corresponding spool, a screw-threaded bolt m isprovided, which passes through a post M and bears against the spring m.Alock-nut m is preferably provided to secure each bolt m in its adjustedposition, so as to maintain a given pressure between the spring m andthe spool engaged thereby.

Projecting upwardly from the carrier H adjacent each s 001 is a bracketN, within the upper end 0 which is mounted a pin n, having a holethrough the upper end thereof. Also supported upon each bracket Nadjacent the pin n is a rod N, having grooves around its outer surface.

The carrier H may be rotated by any suitable power connections, forconvenience there being shown a belt-pulley R and inter-- posed gearing.The belt-pulley is ournaled within the bracket A, secured to andprojecting laterally from the table A, such bracket having a dependingarm a, in which is rotatably supported a bearing of the pulley R. Fixedto the pulley R is a beveled gear 1", meshing with a beveled gear S,loosely mounted upon a vertical shaft 5. The vertical shaft is journaledat its lower end in a bearing a carried by a bracket A depending fromthe table A. The shaft S extends through a. bearing b carried by theextension B v of the support B. Any suitable means may be provided forclutching the beveled gear S to the shaft S In the drawings I have shownclutch means comprising a hand-lever S, fulcrumed at one end 8 in thebracket A and loosely surrounding, intermediate of its ends, the shaft SSurrounding the shaft above the lever S is a collar S havingupwardly-projecting clutch- 65 fingers .9 adapted to engage lugs s onthe beveled gear S. A block S is fixed to the shaft S and projectsradially between the clutch-fingers s thereon, thereby rotatablyconnecting such fingers with the shaft S. The lever S has pivotallyconnected thereto a latch S the upperend of which extends through aguide (1 fixed to the table A. The upper end of the latch S is providedwith a hook adapted to engage the upper end of the guide a suchengagement being effected by a spring 8 secured at its lower end to thelatch and engaging the interior of the guide, as clearly shown in Figs.1 and 2.

Fixed upon the shaft S is aworm t, meshing with a worm-wheel T, thejournals of which are mounted in bearings carried by a bracket t,projecting from one of the posts I). Rigidly secured. to the stub-shaftT, on which the worm-wheel T is fixed, is a gear-wheel T which mesheswith a gear-wheel t fixed upon the end of a horizontal shaft U. Thehorizontal shaft is journaled in a bearing 5 on the extension B of thesu port B and also in a bearing 1) on a support projecting from thesupport B. A gear-wheel U is fixed upon the shaft'U. and meshes with agearwheel U fixed upon a short shaft 10 The shaft a is journaled at itsends in bearings carried by brackets C and C mounted upon the support B.The ends of the shaft M2 ongage elongated slots in the brackets C C andare adj ustably retained therein in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Afollower a engages each end of the shaft of and is forced against thesame by a spring U, the tension of which is regulated by a bolt Uextending through a plate it, carried at the outer end of thecorresponding bracket C or C Fixed to the meshed gear-wheels U U arepulleys V and V having concave peripheries. Carried by the brackets C Cis. a bracket W, having an extension to, carrying a leaf-spring W. Anadjustable bolt to extends through the extension to and engages theupper surface of the spring W. v 1 10 The operation of my invention isas follows: One or more spools L, containing a conductor, are mountedupon the supports K on the carrier H. The conductor Z, which consists ofa tenacious interior wire surrounded by copper wire, has been made inany suitable manner and wound upon the spools L prior to inserting suchspools in the machine herein described. The number of spools mountedupon the carrier may be varied according to whether the cord is tocomprise one or more conductors. The conductor from each spool isthreaded through the hole in the .pin n adjacent the same and thenturned one or more times around the adjacent grooved rod N, thence.passes through the hole in the upper end of the adj a cent guide P. Theconductors leading from the several spools when more than one-spool isused are similarly guided to the mandrel 130 F, after which the machineis put in operation. In order to rotate the table, the handlever S isdrawn upwardly, so that the catch S engages the upper end of the guide aand retains the clutch-fingers s in engagement with the lugs s on thebeveled gear S, thereby locking such gear to the shaft S. The powerbelthaving been applied to the pulley R, the rotary motion imparted theretois communicated by the beveled gear 1" to the beveled gear S,whichrotates the shaft S". The retation of the shaft S is transmitted,through the gear-wheel G fixed thereon and the gear-wheel G, driventhereby, through the idler-gear G to the carrier H. The carrier H isconsequently rotated around the mandrel F and the conductor from eachspool wound around the mandrel, thereby forming the conductor into acoil comprising parallel convolutions. The coiled wire extending abovethe mandrel passes between the grooved pulleys V and V which are rotatedin opposite directions, upwardly from the mandrel, so that the cord asit is formed is drawn away from the mandrel. The rotary motion isimparted to the guide-pulleys V V from the shaft S through the medium ofthe worm t, wormwheel T, stub-shaft T, gearwheel TF, and gear-wheel tfixed upon the shaft U, which shaft carries the gear-wheel U. When it isdesired to discontinue the operation of the machine, the latch S isdisengaged from the guide a which permits the lever S to drop and removethe clutch-fingers s from engagement with the lugs on the beveled gearS, permitting the beveled gear to idly rotate upon the shaft S \Vhendesired, the machine may be operated manually by rotating the shaft S bymeans of the crank 8 The machine is capable of various adjustments inorder to renderthe same capable of use in making switchboard-cordscomprising one or more conductors. The number of spools mounted upon thecarrier corresponds to the number of conductors of which the cord is tobe composed. When more than one spool is mounted upon the carrier, theguides P are so adjusted that the conductors leading from the severalspools will be directed to the mandrel at different heights, therebyinsuring the even winding of the plurality of conductors around themandrel. The rotation of the spools upon the carrier is regulated bymeans of the springs m engaging the peripheries of the spools, thetension of which may be regulated by means of the screw-threaded rods m.The tension of the conductor as it passes from its spool to the mandrelis regulated by bending the same around the grooved rod N, the guidin ofthe conductor to such rod being regulatec by the pin a, through whichthe conductor passes from the spool. Vhen only one spool is used, thefriction of the spring thereon must be greater than when a plurality ofspools are used. It is also necessary to increase the tension by bendingthe conductor around the rod N more times when only a single spool isused.

The pressure with which the pulleys V V engage the coiled cord may beregulated by adjusting the screws U, thereby regulating the tension ofthe springs U which force the journals of the shaft 14 toward the shaftU. The coiled cord is retained in conact with the periphery of thepulley V by means of the guiding-springs TV, the tension of which may beregulated by the screw w.

The speed of rotation of the pulleys V V 2 must be varied according tothe number of conductors used in making the cord. The speed with whichthe cord is formed is greater when the cord is composed of more than oneconductor. Consequently the pulley must rotate at slow speed when asingle conductor is used and at a gradually-in creased speed when two,three, or four conductors are employed. The speed of rotation of thepulleys is varied by varying the relative sizes of the meshedgear-wheels T and t From the foregoing description it will be observedthat I have invented an improved machine for winding a flexible wireinto spiral form, and more particularly a machine for makingswitchboard-cords which is simple in construction and operation, but theoperation of which results in the cord being quickly made of one or moreconductors.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with amandrel, of a carrier, a post for supporting said mandrel extendingconcentrically through said carrier, means for supporting a spool ofwire on said carrier eccentrically to the axis of said mandrel, andmeans for relatively rotating said carrier and mandrel.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with amandrel, of a carrier, means for supporting a plurality of spools ofwire on said carrier, a separate guide mounted upon the carrier fordirecting the wire from each spool to the mandrel, said guidesterminating at different heights, and means for relatively rotating saidcarrier and mandrel.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with amandrel, of a carrier, means for supporting a plurality of spools ofwire upon said carrier, a plurality of guides for directing the wirefrom the spools to the mandrel, means for adjustably supporting saidguides upon said carrier, and means for relatively rotating said carrierand mandrel.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with amandrel, of a carrier,

means for supporting a spool of wire on said carrier, means forrelatively rotating said carrier and mandrel, and means located on theOpposite side of the mandrel from the carrier for drawing the coiledwire from the mandrel.

5. In a machine of the character described,-

the combination with a mandrel, of a carrier,

means for supporting a spool of wire on said carrier, means forrelatively rotating said carrier and mandrel, a pair ofoppositely-rotated pulleys between which the coiled wire passes from themandrel, means for rotating said pulleys, and means for forcing thecoiled wire against one of said pulleys.

7. Ina machine of the character described, the combination with amandrel, of a carrier, a post for supporting said mandrel extendingconcentrically through the carrier, means for rotatively supporting aspool of wire on said carrier eccentrically to the axis of said mandrel,means for regulating the rotation of said spool, and means forrelatively rotating. said carrier and mandrel.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with amandrel, of a carrier, means for supporting a spool of wire on saidcarrier, means on said carrier interposed between said spool and mandrelfor retarding the movement of the wire, a guide for directing the wireto said retarding means, and means for relatively rotating said carrierand mandrel.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with amandrel, of a carrier, means for rotatively supporting a spool of wireon said carrier, means for regulating the rotation of said spool, meansinterposed between said spool and mandrel for retarding the movement ofthe wire, a guide for directing the wire to said retarding means, andmeans for relatively rotating said carrier and mandrel.

10. In a machine for making switchboardcords, the combination with themandrel, of a carrier, mean supon said carrier for supporting aconductor to form the cord, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft,gearing interposed between said shaft and carrier for rotating thelatter, and means actuated by said shaft for drawing the coiled cordfrom the mandrel.

11. In a machine for making switchboardcords, the combination with amandrel, of a carrier, means upon said carrier for supporting aconductor to form the cord, a. shaft, means for rotating said shaft,gearing interposed between said shaft and carrier for rotating thelatter, and guide-pulleys between gl hich the coiled cord passes fromthe man- 12. In a machine for making switchboardcords, the combinationwithv a mandrel, of a carrier, means for rotatively supporting aplurality of spools containing conductors upon said carrier, means forregulating the r0- tation of said spools, guides mounted on said carrierthrough which the conductors pass to the mandrel, means for adjustingsaid guides, means interposed between said spools and mandrel forretarding the movement of the conductors, means for drawing the coiledcord from the mandrel, and means for relatively rotating said carrierand mandrel.

In testimony whereof I sign this specifica tion in the presence of twoWitnesses.

WVILLIAM J. BURTON.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. WILKINSON, O. D. SUMMER.

